In college I got a lunch from someone because they said they would buy lunch
for the first person to come up with the words that matched the acronym
TANSTAAFL. When I told him it was "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free
Lunch" he pointed out that I now knew I wouldn't be getting the 'prize'.
Until I pointed out the double negative and therefore I should get a lunch.
He bought lunch in the college cafeteria.
Alan Wyman
Manager of Computer Operations
U.S. Foodservice - Eagan
(651) 683-4253
-----Original Message-----
From: Heasman, David [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2002 10:13 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [HP3000-L] Free Lunch (OT)
Don Harrington writes
If the source is the Larry Niven Ringworld books, then TANSTAAFL is the
correct form.
It appears the source is "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress", by Robert Heinlein.
Mike Berkowitz
Guess? Inc.
I think it emerged somewhat earlier than that in the old Astounding
magazine when
the editor, John W Campbell, was enthusing about the Dean Drive, which
appeared to
contradict the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics.
The "free lunch" itself is described memorably in Gore Vidal's "1876",
which too is
speculative fiction. New York bars of that era offered a free lunch if the
lunchers would buy drinks.
Fried oysters were the dish described.
Too much info?
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